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An attempted suicide bomb attack in Morocco missed its intended target, a bus-load of foreign tourists, but seriously wounded the suspected bomber, a Moroccan security chief told AFP.

The explosion, which occurred in the former imperial town of Meknes in a central square popular with foreign visitors, ripped off the arm of the 30-year-old Moroccan man who was carrying the gas cylinder.

None of the tourists in the bus, who included French, Italians and Americans, was hurt. The blast happened at 11:30 am (GMT).

“He tried to get in the bus where tourists of several nationalities were staying, but the driver had the presence of mind to close the door in his face,” said the security expert.

The bomber, Hicham Dokkali, was an engineer who worked in the tax office in Meknes, he added.

Witnesses had seen the bomber talking to two other people shortly before the attack, he added.

Police said they were searching for the two other men seen with him.

The state-run MAP news agency reported earlier that the alleged attacker “headed towards the bus but was unable to reach it because of the driver’s vigilance.”

The state agency described the incident as “an isolated and desperate attempt.”

The suspect was in the town’s military hospital in a critical condition.

Morocco has been on high alert for attacks since last month, following a threat from a north African group that has affiliated itself with Al-Qaeda.

The country was hit by outrages earlier this year. In March and April, several suicide bombers carried out attacks in Casablanca.

In May 2003, that city — the economic capital of the country — was struck by coordinated bomb attacks that killed 45 people, including 12 suicide bombers.